Songs that carry pride in journalism

Compared to some other industries and professions, songs written about journalism are only a very modest number. However, for many generations of journalists, songs written about the "dangerous profession" are enough to make each person more proud and confident in the profession they are passionate about and pursuing.

In 2020, on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, musician Nguyen Dinh Tham ( Da Nang ) had a special gift for the press with a song called "Proud of my journalism profession" (based on Thuan Huu's poem). With the main melody, passionate and lyrical, mixed with a bit of spontaneous explosion at the end of the song "Proud of my journalism profession" as if deepening the pride and confidence of journalists with their newspaper, with the journalism job they have chosen: "I am proud of my journalism profession/ Oh, journalism is full of hardships and difficulties/ Long days and nights, pouring out my heart on words/ Always feeling indebted to time/ I am proud of my colleagues and brothers/ The life of a reporter from the horizon to the end of the sea/ I miss my comrades who work tirelessly every night/ So that tomorrow the newspaper will reach people's hands".

Performance in the art program “Forever a red heart, sharp pen” celebrating the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day. Photo: Tuan Minh

With the same development technique on the gentle, delicate melody, the song "Our journalism profession" (composer Ngoc Duong) has a very impressive and visual way of depicting the sacred mission of journalism: "Our journalism profession, the gun is the pen/ The mind and spirit are the bullets, the bullet's path is never curved/ The pen is like a plow in the field, plowing and sowing, fragrant flowers and sweet fruits/ The pen is the scale of justice, measuring and weighing, adding balance..." and here again: "The pen is the poetic idea, the whole moon, romantic and dreamy, believing in life/ The pen is the heart, journalism, our journalism, is the people's belief/ The pen is the poetic idea, the whole moon, romantic and dreamy, believing in life/ The pen is the heart, journalism, our journalism, is the people's belief".

Besides the songs composed by professional musicians, it is interesting that there are also many songs about journalism composed by journalists who are “amateur musicians” themselves and have created a deep impression on the press as well as the music- loving public. Journalist and musician Xuan Nghia (Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper) is one of the few journalists who have musical works about journalism from such “amateur” abilities.

The song “Like a Nameless Flower” (written in 2010) by musician and journalist Xuan Nghia is a lyrical song praising journalists who always work silently, silently contribute, silently like a nameless flower that contributes to beautifying life every day, every hour. Perhaps because he is a person in the profession, working in the profession, journalist and musician Xuan Nghia writes about people in the profession, writes about the work of the profession very honestly, naturally like a story: “In the middle of the room, the girl walks into the crowd / Many road dust stains are still on her shirt / The girl sits silently at the end of the room / Asking around about the ups and downs of life”.

And then, suddenly, he was like a public figure, exclaiming when he realized: "Oh, I know, you are the one who wrote the news this morning/ The article cherishes every feeling/ About life changing every day/ The article speaks for every fate/ Having just overcome every storm and ups and downs/ And today, the same pen as always/ The diary that has never mentioned my name/ Finding places that need the call/ Of the heart of a sincere journalist".

And his pride, confidence, honor and praise for journalism and for journalists are also very lyrical, profound and meaningful: “Like nameless flowers that decorate the deserted stream bank/ Not swaying despite the wind and rain/ Not proud when next to chrysanthemums, orchids, roses/ Blending in without changing color/ Isn’t that right, beautiful reporter/ Despite the storm, you still walk on your own/ And tomorrow morning when you wake up/ Looking around, life has changed”…

Through “Like a Nameless Flower”, journalist and musician Xuan Nghia has very skillfully and subtly conveyed in his song the work, as well as the silent hardships and difficulties of journalists in their mission to convey the fastest and most timely authentic and vivid information from colorful life to the public every day.

With “The Song of Journalists”, journalist and musician Nguyen Trong Ninh (Vietnam Television Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City) has a different way of expressing his views on journalism, very graceful and impressive: “Together we live in harmony with colorful information/ Together we write for the aspirations of thousands of hearts/ Overcoming many difficulties, our will is unwavering, our hearts are steadfast/ Forever shining with the ideals of the path we take/ Forgetting ourselves for the people, moving forward for the country/ The sparkling pen always reflects the passionate song in our hearts/ The distant sea we have gone, the waves are shining with the pen/ The vast green fields, so many of our footprints on the distant roads/ Despite the storms, we still go, despite the storms, we still come/ The sparkling pen always reflects the faith/ Thousands of hearts are waiting/ No matter how difficult the long road is, we are determined to overcome”.

In tune with “The Song of Journalists”, journalists seem to feel more proud and confident in their profession: “ Despite the storms, we still go, despite the storms, we still come/ The pen still sparkles, always shining with faith/ Thousands of hearts are waiting/ No matter how difficult the long journey is, we will always sing, proud of being Vietnamese journalists” . Through “The Song of Journalists”, perhaps the “non-Journalists” will have the opportunity to understand more about the unique and special nature of journalism, about the work of writers who are considered “pioneers on the ideological and cultural front” who are quietly devoting themselves to every path of life, connecting information to everyone, every home, connecting “the Party’s will” with “the people’s heart”.

“I am a radio announcer”, a composition by journalist Y Jang Tuyn (Editor of Ho Chi Minh City People's Radio Station) exploits the beauty of journalism, of journalists from a different perspective, full of art and improvisation: “I am a radio announcer on the radio waves/ I am a radio announcer on the radio waves/ Every morning when people wake up/ Every afternoon when people get off work/ My voice is as clear as a bird's song/ I am a radio announcer on the radio waves/ I am a radio announcer on the radio waves/ Every morning, every daily news bulletin/ Every afternoon, every good song/ It is your voice that is the joy of many people/ Rain or shine, day or night, you are still on time/ Going to work is the joy I love from my heart/ Waking up the farmer/ The joy of a young soldier/ My companion driving safely on trips/ Despite hardships and difficulties, your voice is still warm/ Your own joy is the joy of many people/ The spirit of a worker/ Students miss home less/ A gift for students, more good knowledge/ Thanks to your voice, connecting/ I is a announcer".

Sharing the same emotional flow in his musical work, journalist and musician Tran Tuan Duong (VOV3, Voice of Vietnam) in the song "The River Up High" (based on a poem by journalist Ta Toan) talks about the image of radio waves in the air, thereby talking about the pride in the historical tradition of Voice of Vietnam, as well as the pride of those who work in radio journalism: "There is a river, a river up high/ Peaceful like the river of my hometown/ Gently lulling sweet lips/ Lulling poetic verses with the wind, in harmony with the singing of five continents/ There is a river, a river up high/ Warming the hearts of the Vietnamese people/ A bridge connecting millions of hearts/ Proudly proud of the Voice of Vietnam..." on a gentle, poignant background music at the beginning, then gradually rising strongly, both lyrical and profound, filled with love in the quieter parts. These are lyrics sung from empathy, from a common love of people who have been attached to and devoted to the development of Voice of Vietnam, as well as to the broadcasting career in today's information explosion period.

Among the faces of journalists who have a connection with the music field and have musical works written about journalism, it is impossible not to mention the female journalist and musician Quynh Hop (Music Editor, Ho Chi Minh City People's Voice Radio). With her passion for music, she has her own music album called "Golden Rose" which includes a collection of songs that she composed from the poems of her journalist colleagues, including the song "The Journalism I Love". "I love journalism very much/ It is hard work but full of joy/ I feel like I owe it/ With time next to the fragrant newspaper/ I love it so much that I can't sleep every night/ So that tomorrow the newspaper will come out early/ Journalism, despite its many hardships/ Is a song of constant struggle...".

As mentioned above, although the number is not much, musical compositions about journalism have always been a source of pride, encouragement and motivation for journalists to be more confident, constantly strive to create and contribute to the revolutionary journalism career, for the development of the homeland and country.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nhung-ca-khuc-mang-dam-niem-tu-hao-ve-nghe-bao-706399.html